Shloka 23
Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī
Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude
अहो त्रियामान्तरित उद्वाहो मेऽल्पराधस: । नागच्छत्यरविन्दाक्षो नाहं वेद्म्यत्र कारणम् । सोऽपि नावर्ततेऽद्यापि मत्सन्देशहरो द्विज: ॥ २३ ॥
aho tri-yāmāntarita udvāho me ’lpa-rādhasaḥ nāgacchaty aravindākṣo nāhaṁ vedmy atra kāraṇam so ’pi nāvartate ’dyāpi mat-sandeśa-haro dvijaḥ
Alas! When the night ends, my wedding will begin—how little merit is mine! The lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa does not come; I do not know the reason. And the brāhmaṇa who carried my message has not yet returned.
It is apparent from this verse, as confirmed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, that the present scene takes place before sunrise.
FAQs
This verse shows Rukmiṇī’s intense devotional longing and fear of separation: as the wedding hour approaches, she laments that Kṛṣṇa has not arrived and even her messenger has not returned.
In the narrative, Rukmiṇī has surrendered her heart to Kṛṣṇa and sent Him a message; seeing no sign of His arrival as time runs out, she feels helpless and attributes her distress to misfortune, not knowing what obstacle may be delaying Him.
When results seem delayed, continue sincere remembrance and prayer rather than despair; like Rukmiṇī, keep faith in the Lord’s timing while staying steady in devotion.